Runelords Hensehold

24 Rova 4707 (3/14/2014) – The Glassworks (Part II)

from "The Journal of Siȝecraft Ælfsiȝe Ælfwine"

Dion heals me (perhaps a channeling of energy from Cayden Cailean?). Argentus has engaged the goblin druid while Tōketsu has been delivering his alchemical bombs against all of the goblins in the room (while simultaneously avoiding Argentus and me). In short order the druid and his guards are felled. Dion heals me further as Argentus and Tōketsu continue down the main hallway to gain entry into the main work room. I hesitate long enough to determine each archer has five magic arrows, the druid a magical set of leather armor, then hurry to catch up.

Argentus opens the door and he and Tōketsu enter the main work room. Dion and I follow. I immediately cast an Acid Splash at shadowy figure, now identified as Tsuto Kaijitsu, and miss. Tsuto drops his bow, steps forward and stuns Argentus with his bare hand, forcing the elf to drop his weapon. Draethor and Ro finish with the goblins and rush up to flank Tsuto. Tsuto, moving as fluid as water, tumbles away. I try to strike him as he tumbles by but cannot follow his movements. Instead I give chase as Tōketsu yells “Take him alive!” Switching to Color Spray, I strike Tsuto full on but his mental control prevails.

Argentus and Tōketsu continue the chase while I follow, recalling Acidic Shocking Grasp en route. Desna smiled on us; as the elusive Tsuto is delayed in opening a shut door Argentus strikes him mightily and renders him unconscious.

Tsuto is tied up and stored in a toilet room after being stripped naked. I stand guard over him holding my Acidic Shocking Grasp charge. Sanliss Detects Magic on Tsuto’s belongings and finds:

The only other thing of interest found on the first floor were stairs leading down to a subbasement. Ensuring Tsuto was secured, we descend. There’s evidence of an old brick wall being recently demolished and we learn it conceals an ancient smuggler’s tunnel (though we do not explore and do not know where it leads). Ameiko is found, unconscious, locked in a room. Sanliss picks the lock faster than the keys found on Tsuto can be produced. Once healed Ameiko explained her encounter the previous night with her brother. Tsuto revealed that he and several other mercenaries were led by Nualia (the adopted daughter of the deceased Father Ezakien Tobyn?) and hinted that she’s got big plans for Sandpoint’s future. Tsuto warned Ameiko that she didn’t want to be in town when those plans came through and offered her a chance to join his group at Thistletop. Ameiko recoiled at the suggestion and slapped her brother in shock that he’d sunk to such a low. He responded by unleashing his goblins on her. At that point she had no further recollection.

Ameiko accompanies us as we search the rest of the basement. An adjacent room is discovered to be where Tsuto has been sleeping. His journal is found. The last three entries are disturbing:

Tsuto’s journal:

Page 1 – My love seems bent on going through with it—nothing I can say convinces her of her beauty. She remains obsessed with removing what she calls her “celestial taint” and replacing it with her Mother’s grace.

Burning her father’s remains at the Thistletop shrine seems to have started the transformation, but I can’t say her new hand is pleasing to me. Hopefully when she offers Sandpoint to Lamashtu’s fires, her new body won’t be as hideous. Maybe I’ll luck out. Succubi are demons too, aren’t they?

Page 2 – Ripnugget seems to favor the overwhelming land approach, but I don’t think it’s the best plan. We should get the quasit’s aid. Send her freaks up from below via the smuggling tunnel in my father’s Glassworks, and then invade from the river and from the Glassworks in smaller but more focused strikes. The rest except Bruthazmus agree, and I’m pretty sure the bugbear’s just being contrary to annoy me.

My love’s too distracted with the lower chambers to make a decision. Says that once Malfeshnekor’s released and under her command, we won’t need to worry about being subtle. I hope she’s right.

Page 3 – The raid went about as planned. Few Thistletop goblins perished, and we were able to secure Tobyn’s casket with ease while the rubes were distracted by the rest. I can’t wait until the real raid. This town deserves a burning, that’s for sure.

from a base at Thistletop. Has “big plans for Sandpoint’s future” that “you don’t want to be in town when those plans came through”.

Could be the adopted daughter of the deceased Father Ezakien Tobyn, thought to have perished in the fire of 4702.

Could be the lover of Tsuto. If so:
• Obsessed with removing her “celestial taint” and replacing with her Mother’s grace.
o Bent on going through with “it”; not convinced of her beauty
 Will offer Sandpoint to Lamashtu’s fires to get a new body
o Burning father’s remains (Father Ezakien Tobyn?) at the Thistletop shrine to start the transformation and has a new hand as a result
• Too distracted with “the lower chambers” to make a decision; Malfeshnekor could be imprisoned there.

“The Quasit” – Demon (Quasit) ???
Mentioned by Tsuto in his journal. “Send her freaks up from below”.

Malfeshnekor – Demon ???
Tsuto’s “lover” is trying to release Malfeshnekor and put under her command. Likely imprisoned in “the lower chambers” of a shrine in Thistletop.

Lamashtu – Demon Lord
Lamashtu is a goddess/demon lord.

Tōketsu explains to Ameiko that her father is dead, a realization that upsets but hardly seems to surprise her. She tells us to deal with Tsuto as we see fit and makes to depart for The Rusty Dragon. Tōketsu and I escort her. When we return the group has finished a though sweep of the Glassworks, including looking for magic. Nothing else is found.

We take Tsuto from the toilet room into the main work room and bind him to a table. He’s revived with Dion’s healing powers and I make ready to interrogate him. Before I can start, Draethor takes a molten glob of glass and drops it onto Tsuto’s chest, knocking him unconscious again. I speak briefly to Draethor explaining physical torture is counterproductive while Dion heals Tsuto again. As Tsuto regains consciousness I begin.

“Tell us what you were doing here.”

“Kill me or shut up.”

“Which is it? Shut up but don’t kill you or keep on talking to you after I kill you?”

“Either shut up or kill me.”

Tōketsu interjects, speaking calmly and softly. Tsuto responds “Kill me, my place is already assured.” I sense Tsuto’s motives and completely believe him. He wants to die now – perhaps it was part of his plan from the beginning. I’m now determined to make him live for as long as possible.

We put a loin cloth over Tsuto’s shame (against my recommendation) and march him to the Sandpoint Garrison. Tōketsu wants us to relocate from The Rusty Dragon to the Glassworks as a bulwark against another goblin invasion. We leave the point undecided.

I have many outstanding questions:

• Hire a townsperson (boy) to accompany me around town. Perhaps 1 cp/day + 1 cp for each message I have him deliver?
• Inform Mayor Kendra Deverin that Sandpoint is in danger.
o Clear the trees from the north wall (at least 50’)
o Be prepared to burn the Sandpoint and Tanner’s bridges
o Consider destroying the Boggy Creek bridge now (or barricade); transfer the Kaijitsu, Valdemar, Scarnetti and Deverin households into town now (and make them responsible for themselves if they refuse)
o Gather standing water (to fight fires)
• Tsuto:
o Is Tsuto possessed? How would we find out?
o Is Gint still alive? If so, can he identify Tsuto as the “longshanks”?
o Tsuto killed his adopted father. Nualia stole the body of her adopted father and destroyed it in a demonic ritual. Tsuto believes he’ll come back from the dead. Are these related?
• Ameiko:
o Why did you fight with your brother years ago?
o Why did you leave town?
o Why did you come back?
o What was the fight with your father about two nights ago?
o Who was Tsuto’s real father? [Ask Tōketsu as well.]
• Glassworks:
o Secure the body of Tsuto’s father – it cannot be taken to the Thistletop Shrine and used in the demonic ritual.
o Were the bricks in the Glassworks basement removed from this side (i.e., the side of the stairs) or the side of the smuggler’s tunnel?
o Where does the smuggler’s tunnel lead?
• Nualia:
o Find someone who knew Nualia and get a physical description.
o Find out how she was adopted.
o Why was it presumed she died in the fire?
• Father Abstalar Zantus:
o Malfeshnekor?
o Lamashtu?